--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A state too expensive in itself, or by…" description: "\"A state too expensive in itself, or by virtue of its dependencies, ultimately falls into decay; its free government is transformed into a tyranny; it d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/simon-bolivar-13654_character_a-state-too-expensive-in-itself-or-by-vi_2885541.jpg" --- # A state too expensive in itself, or by virtue of its… ![“A state too expensive in itself, or by virtue of its dependencies, ultimately falls into decay; its free government is transformed into a tyranny; it disregards the principles which it should preserve, and finally degenerates into despotism. The distinguishing characteristic of small republics is…” quote by Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/simon-bolivar-13654_character_a-state-too-expensive-in-itself-or-by-vi_2885541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/simon-bolivar-13654_character_a-state-too-expensive-in-itself-or-by-vi_2885541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/simon-bolivar-13654_character_a-state-too-expensive-in-itself-or-by-vi_2885541.jpg) > “A state too expensive in itself, or by virtue of its dependencies, ultimately falls into decay; its free government is transformed into a tyranny; it disregards the principles which it should preserve, and finally degenerates into despotism. The distinguishing characteristic of small republics is stability: the character of large republics is mutability.” [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Large states become unstable and tyrannical, while small republics stay stable; power breeds decay. **In simple terms:** Big governments tend to become tyrannical. Key Takeaway Support stable, limited governance. Themes politics government stability tyranny decay Mood cautious analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - policy making - civic education - government reform - activism Key Concepts political theory history statecraft Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent decay in large states? - How to balance stability with flexibility? A Different Perspective Stability can also hinder necessary change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Dependency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dependency/) [Despotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism/) [Free government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Mutability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutability/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) [Stability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stability/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Large republics seem to be essentially and inherently aggressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-john-temple-3rd-viscount-palmerston/large-republics-seem-to-be-essentially-and-inherently-aggressive/) [Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-john-temple-3rd-viscount-palmerston/) > [“Madison’s response is famously expressed in Federalist 10, “The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Faction and Insurrection”—arguing that tyranny of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/madison-s-response-is-famously-expressed-in-federalist-10-the-utility/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [A state too expensive in itself, or by virtue of its dependencies, ultimately falls into decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/a-state-too-expensive-in-itself-or-by-virtue-of-its-dependencies/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [Mutability is the badge of infirmity. 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Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-charron/mutability-is-the-badge-of-infirmity-it-is-seldom-that-a-man/) [Pierre Charron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-charron/) > [Mutability is written upon all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-rivarol/mutability-is-written-upon-all-things/) [Antoine Rivarol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-rivarol/) > [“The more bare a life is, the more we fear change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/the-more-bare-a-life-is-the-more-we-fear-change/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [It may be said that the power of preventing bad laws includes that of preventing good ones; and may be used to the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-may-be-said-that-the-power-of-preventing-bad-laws-includes-that-of/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Man's yesterday may never be like his morrow; Nought may endure but Mutability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/man-s-yesterday-may-never-be-like-his-morrow-nought-may-endure-but/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [The mutability of the past is the central tenet of Ingsoc. 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Ignorance is our deepest secret. And it is one of the scariest things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/it-s-a-fact-everyone-is-ignorant-in-some-way-or-another-ignorance-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) ## More by Simon Bolivar > [Damn it, how will I ever get out of this labyrinth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/damn-it-how-will-i-ever-get-out-of-this-labyrinth/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [“Slavery is the daughter of darkness: an ignorant people is a blind instrument of its own destruction”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/slavery-is-the-daughter-of-darkness-an-ignorant-people-is-a-blind/) [Simón Bolívar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [Do not compare your material forces with those of the enemy. Spirit cannot be compared with matter. You are human beings, they are beasts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/do-not-compare-your-material-forces-with-those-of-the-enemy-spirit/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [A people that loves freedom will in the end be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/a-people-that-loves-freedom-will-in-the-end-be-free/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [If Nature is opposed, we will fight her and make her obbey us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/if-nature-is-opposed-we-will-fight-her-and-make-her-obbey-us/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [In the unity of our nations rests the glorious future of our peoples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/in-the-unity-of-our-nations-rests-the-glorious-future-of-our-peoples/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [Flee the country where a lone man holds all power: It is a nation of slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/flee-the-country-where-a-lone-man-holds-all-power-it-is-a-nation-of/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [Colombians! My last wish is for the happiness of the patria. If my death contributes to the end of partisanship and the consolidation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/colombians-my-last-wish-is-for-the-happiness-of-the-patria-if-my/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [Morals and lights are our first necessities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/morals-and-lights-are-our-first-necessities/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [Slavery is the offspring of darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/slavery-is-the-offspring-of-darkness/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [It is harder to release a nation from servitude than to enslave a free nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/it-is-harder-to-release-a-nation-from-servitude-than-to-enslave-a/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [Our hatred knows no bounds, and the war shall be to the death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/our-hatred-knows-no-bounds-and-the-war-shall-be-to-the-death/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [Is it conceivable that a newly emancipated people can soar to the heights of liberty, and, unlike Icarus, neither have its wings melt nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/is-it-conceivable-that-a-newly-emancipated-people-can-soar-to-the/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [It is harder to maintain the balance of freedom than it is to endure the weight of tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/it-is-harder-to-maintain-the-balance-of-freedom-than-it-is-to-endure/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) > [Do not adopt the best system of government, but the one most likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-bolivar/do-not-adopt-the-best-system-of-government-but-the-one-most-likely-to/) [Simon Bolivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) [Explore all 44 Simon Bolivar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-bolivar/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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